Toy cannon



Nov. 17, 1953- E. s. LEACH 2,659,356

TOY CANNON Filed May 18, 1951 2 Sheet s-Sheet 1 Nov. 17, 1953 E. S.LEACH TOY CANNON Filed May 18 1951 l i E 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig. 7

Edward 5. Leach INVENTOR.

Patented Nov. 17, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TOY CANNON Edward S.Leach, Portland, Oreg.

Application May 18, 1951, Serial No. 226,979

1 Claim. 1

The present invention relates to game apparati and more particularly toa game apparatus which is comprised of a toy cannon adapted to fireproiectiles.

An object of the present invention is to provide a means whereby proectiles disposed in the barrel can be retained notwithstanding thevertical inclination of the barrel preparatory to firing.

Various other objects and advantages will become apparent from thedetailed description to follow. The best form in which I havecontemplated applying my invention is clearly illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the toy cannon;

Figure 2 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view throu h the toycannon of Figure 1 with a projectile disposed in the bore of the barrel;

Figure 3 is a detail perspective view of the breach portion of the toycannon showing the tape which is disposed across the end of the bore ofthe cannon for retaining the projectile therein;

Figure 4 is a detail perspective view of the rod stock which is employedfor constructing the apparatus of the present invention and from which aplurality of projectiles can be cut, the rod stock also providing aramrod for the cannon;

Figure 5 is a detail perspective view of one of the pro ectiles 0f thepresent invention;

Figure 6 is a front elevational view of one of the target elements;

Figure '7 is a front elevational view of a second tar et element; and

Figure 8 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken substantiallyalong the plane of line 88 of Figure 7.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, wherein like numeralsdesignate like parts throughout, the numeral H3 designates generally thetoy cannon of the present invention, the numeral I2 designates generallya first target element and the numeral 14 designates generally a secondtarget element.

The toy cannon I0 is best shown in Figures 1 and 2 as comprising anelongated rectangular base l6 having a pair of upstanding bearing platesis and secured to opposing longitudinal edges thereof. Abarrel-supporting plate 22 has a lug 24 extending therethrough, endportions of the lug 24 being threaded as at 26. The lug 24 is engagedthrough aligned openings in the upstanding bearing plates I 8 and 20whereby the barrel-supporting plate can be pivotally moved relative tothe base I6. Wing nuts 28 are engaged over the threaded portion 26 foradjustably securing the barrel-supporting plate in preselected angularinclination.

The barrel-supporting plate 22 is formed with an opening 30 whichreceives the barrel 32. The barrel 32 is formed from standard dowelstock having a bore 34 formed longitudinally thereof. A ri idifying rod36 engages in a second opening 38 formed in the barrel-supporting plate22 and has its outer end adapted to receive an eyelet 40 thereon, theeyelet 40 being engaged in the outer end of the barrel 32 for supportingthe same.

As seen best in Figure 3, the barrel supporting plate 22 is providedwith a retaining strap or tape 42. pins 44 being employed for securingthe tape 42 to the supporting plate 22. The tape 42 is adapted tooverlie the opening 34 in the barrel 32 whereby projectiles disposed inthe bore of the barrel can be retained therein.

Another pin 44 is employed for securing the end of the rod 36 within thebore 38 of the supporting plate 22, as seen best in Figure 2.

The hammer means for the toy cannon m is formed from a conventionalmouse trap. The base plate of the mouse trap is cut to provide first andsecond plates 46 and 48, the first plate being fixedly secured to thesupporting plate 22. A wire 50 is fixedly secured to the first plate 46and parallel to its upper edge as well as in juxtaposition thereto. Acoiled torsion spring 52 is carried by the wire 50 and has one end 54engaged against the first plate 46. The U-shaped bail wire 56 of themouse trap is rotatably carried on the wire 50, the opposing ends 58 ofthe torsion spring 52 being engaged a ainst one leg 60 of the bail wire56 for normally urging the same to a first position. The second plate 48is fixedly secured to the bail wire 56 by means of the staples 62.

Figure 4 shows a piece of dowel stock 64 which can be employed as aramrod, similar dowel stock being cut up into sections to provideprojectiles 66 as shown in Figure 5.

Figures 6 and 7 show a pair of target elements I 2 and I 4. Each of thetarget elements 12 and I4 is formed from a fiat piece of cardboard 68 or68' and the like, the cardboard having indicia markings thereon such asthe soldier 10 shown in Figure 6 and the tank 72 shown in Figure 7. Thebases for the target element l2 and !4 are formed from a pair ofelongated bars 14 and 16 of rectangular cross section, pins 13 beingengaged through the same.

In view of the foregoing description of the structure of the apparatusof the present invention, the manner in which the game apparatus can beemployed for amusement will be readily understood by one skilled in theart. The projectiles 66 can be individually inserted in the bore of thebarrel 32 and the second plate 48 of the hammer will be moved inopposition to the torsion spring 52 to the position shown in Figure 1and Figure 2. The ramrod 64 can then be en gaged in the bore of thebarrel 32 for pushing the projectile 66 so that a portion thereof isexposed, as shown in Figure 2. The second plate #8 may then be releasedand the projectile 66 will follow its trajectory.

Of course, the aiming of the cannon can be adjusted by means of the wingnut 28'so that any of the target elements l2 or can. bestruck. Varioussets of rules can be supplied such as assigning certain values to thetarget elements I! and I4 whereby score can be kept.

Inasmuch. as different sets of rules can be devised, I do not wishto belimited thereby merely by the scope of the claim hereinafter set forth.

Having described the invention, What claimed as new is:

A game apparatus comprising an elongated rectangular base having apairof upstanding bearing. plates secured to opposing longitudinal edgesthereof, a barrel-suppcrting plate ivotably carried by saidbearingplates having an opening formed therethrough adjacent its upper end, abarrel formed from a dowel having a longitudinal bore therein beingreceived in said opening and fixedly secured to said barrel-supportingplate, and firing means attached to said barrel- 4 supporting plate forengaging a projectile disposed in the barrel for ejecting the same, saidbarrel having a retaining strap loosely positioned over the bore of theend of said barrel in said supporting plate whereby projectilespositioned in said bore will be retained therein, said firing meansincluding first and second plates, said first plate being fixedlysecured to said barrel-supporting plate and having a coiled torsionspring carried thereby, a bail wire pivotally carried by said firstplate and engaged by said torsion spring whereby the bail wire is urgedto a first position, said second plate being fixedly secured to saidbail wire for pivoting therewith, said second plate being movable to afiring posi tion in opposition to said torsion spring, and releasable.for. engaging said strap for efiecting ejection of said projectile fromthe barrel.

EDWARD S. LEACH.

BeferencesCited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 1,102,948 Norton July 7, 1914 1,151,663 Carter Aug. 31, 19151,348,597 Stewart Aug. 1920 1,362,171 Minnich Dec. 14, 1920 1,412,625Nelson Apr. 11, 1922 1,477,341 Gadecki Dec. 11, 1923 1,529,893 Kastner-rMar. 17, 1925 1,580,854 Piessens Apr. 13, 1926 1,916,680 Miller July 4,1933 2,371,059 Mendles Mar. 6, 1945

